Jared McCain, a promising 21-year-old player for the Philadelphia 76ers, has captivated social media with his lighthearted content, amassing an impressive 4.4 million followers on TikTok. Recently, he gained attention for a humorous video that showcased his bench press capabilities while recovering from a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee, which ended his season prematurely. The short video shows McCain striking a pose in the team’s retro Allen Iverson-era throwback unis, a barbell stacked with 2.5-pound plates.
The viral moment gained significant traction after McCain shared a clip from the 76ers locker room alongside teammate Kyle Lowry. This one video surpassed seven million views on its own, showing the power McCain had to relate to his fans, especially when the going got tough. Even with surgery on his injury in December, McCain still has a positive outlook. He’s taking it day-by-day, working on his recovery process and staying positive though.
After fans challenged his bench press strength after seeing the post go viral, McCain posted this message to his Instagram story. He addressed the comments with a simple yet relatable message: “Working on it,” accompanied by two sad emojis. His honest admission of defeat resonated with many constituents. It just demonstrated that, unflappable as ever, he hasn’t lost his ability to find fun in a somewhat humiliating new reality.
Over the course of 23 games, McCain put up 15.3 points, 2.6 assists, and 2.4 rebounds on a rookie campaign. His phenomenal production led him to being selected for the Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star weekend. His skills and versatility on the court had already established him as one of the league’s rising stars. His injury is now doubly disappointing for both him and his legion of devoted fans.
While McCain recovers from surgery, he’s not taking a step back. He’s incredibly personal and hands on with his audience by sharing videos directly to them through social media platforms. In one of his most recent posts, he proved his iron will by curling a single 8-pound dumbbell. Even with the challenges of his injury, his focus on rehabilitation and fitness comes through loud and clear.
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